Fluid mixing control system



Oct. 31, 1950 T. B. CHACE 2,528,422

FLUID MIXING CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [27 Z EZ-ZZUF' I 50M 5' B. Ciel/70E Oct. 31, 1950 T. B. CHAQCE 2,528,422

FLUID MIXING CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 77 64 7: 57 6 62 66 5 1 J6 m e0 55 2 5/ 49 I 3 68 4a 3 P 48 a 4 1 1 "4 67 r F2 gm! 66 7) 64 60 .55 f g A MIMI vz/yw mmy 57 Oct. 31, 1950 T. B. cHAcE:

FLUID MIXING CONTROL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 13, 1945 fizz Er? fur" 5 m M M "larly in low pressure areas.

Patented Oct. 31, 1950 ATENT OFFICE 2,528,422 FLUID MIXKNG common sYs'rEM Thomas B. Chace, Winnetka, IiL, assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 627,982

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a fluid'control system, and more particularly'to a system which is, particularly applicable to non-automatic or semi-automatic washing machines.

- Onnon-automatic or semi-automatic domestic washing machines of the type which-do not have mechanisms for starting-and stopping the machine, filling the tub and emptying the water,

and centrifugally dryingtheclothes, the problem of securing properly temperatured water to the correct level'in the tub is a diificult one. The

-most common practice, at the present time, is

to have aninlet hose connected from the faucet to the tub to adjust the temperature by proportioning the opening of the hot and cold water faucets by hand and waitinguntil the tub is filled and-then closing the faucets. During theflll period any temperature changes in the hot or coldwater supply lines, or more particularlv'pressure changes creating-a different relative-pressure differential, will, of course, change the mixed water temperature. Of equal importance andconsiderable inconvenience is the time factorin waiting for the tub to fill, particu- The operator does not-usually leave the machineduring the -fill period because of fear of overflowing.

One of "the'principal features and objects of the present invention is to provide an arrangement which includes anautomatic-temperature controlled mixer valve with hand opening dia- "phragm flll valves and fluid level responsive -member shutoff valves for semi-automatic operation of-the washing machine.

It is a further object of the present invention l in operation and which is rugged and reliable in use. 7

Another object of the present invention-is to provide-a novel fluid control system for laundry machines. 7

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel fluid control system employing a singl automatic temperature controlled mixer valve having hot and cold water bypaths which cooperate with diaphragm shutoff valves and associated fluid level responsive members for delivering a predetermined quantity of water to a laundry machine at a predetermined desired temperature.

Stillanother and further object of the present invention is to provide a novel pilot-operated valve and fluid level responsive actuation mechanism.

The novel features which I believe to be charthereof, may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fluid control system embodying the novel teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational'view partly in section of one of the pilot operated diaphragm shutoff valves together with its associated fluid level responsive member;

Figure 3 is a view similar to'Figure 2 but showing the valve in its closed position and showing the fluid level responsive member in its lowered position;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the outer shell of a household washing machine equipped with the manually operated mechanism shown i Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of the present invention with electric push-button actuation of the flow control valves.

The fluid control system diagrammatically illustrated in Figure l of the drawings includes an automatic temperature controlled mixer valve III. This automatic temperature controlled mixer valve l0 may be of any conventional design having hot and cold fluid inlets, and means for proportioning the fluid from the inlet to maintain a constant predetermined temperature in the fluid delivered therefrom. Any suitable and conventional temperature responsive means is included in the mixer valve for controlling and proportioning the hot and cold fluid inlet. By way of example and not by way of limitation, this automatic temperature controlled mixer valve may be of the general design shown inthe Lund Patent 'No. 2,310,975; granted February 16, 1943. The diagrammatic illustration-of the handle l l on the valve mechanism it shown in'Figure 1 indicates the means'provi'ded for adjusting the temperature setting to which the mixer valve will deliver fluid.

The automatic temperature controlled mixer valve Hi is connected to a hot fluid inlet duct [2 and to a cold fluid inlet duct l3. The outlet'of the valve H] which is arranged to deliver fluid at a predetermined temperature as selected by the positioning of the lever H, is indicated at M.

The tub of the washing machine to which the fluid is to be delivered is indicated diagrammatically at It. This may be housed Within the 3 washing machine it which is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The outlet pipe 44 of the automatic temperature controlled mixer valve IQ is connected to an automatic constant rate of flow maintainin device I! which in turn is connected through a delivery pipe I8 and a shutoff valve Hi to the delivery pipes 28 and 2!. The automatic constant rate of flow maintaining device ll may be of any suitable design, but has been illustrated as being of the design described and claimed in the copendin application of Leslie A. Kempton, U. S. Serial No. 545,312, filed July 17, 1944, now Patent No. 2,454,929, dated November 30, 1948, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. In substance, this constant rate of flow maintaining device includes a resilient diaphragm member 22 seated on a shoulder member 23 and having a central orifice 24 which is smaller than the opening provided by the shoulder member 23. against the upper side of the resilient member 22 increases, the washer is deflected downwardly causing a smaller and smaller restriction in the upper end of the orifice 24. It has been found in practice that a construction of the type diagrammatically illustrated herein will maintain a substantially constant rate of fluid flow in the outlet irrespective of very wide variations in fluid pressure (such, for example, as variations from 15 pounds per square inch to 159 pounds per square inch).

The shutoff valve l9 includes manually operable mechanism 25 for opening the valve and fluid level responsive member operated mechanism 26 for shutting the valve to interrupt the flow of fluid from the pipe l8 to the delivery pipes 20 and 2!. Before going into a detailed description of the valve l9 and its associated operating mechanism, reference will be made to the fact that a cold water bypass fluid system is provided, as well as a hot water bypass. More particularly, a cold water bypass is provided from a pipe 2? which connects with the cold water supply This pipe 21 connects with a constant rate of flow maintaining device 28 which in turn is connected through a pipe 29 to a shutoff valve 38. The shutoff valve 38 is similar to the shutoff valve [9. The downstream side of the shutoff valve 30 is connected to a pipe 3! which in turn is connected to the delivery pipe 2 I.

Similarly, a hot water bypass is provided by the pipe 32 which is connected to the hot water supply line 12. This pipe 32 connects with a constant rate of flow maintaining device 33 which in turn is connected through a pipe 34 to a shutoff valve 35. Shutoff valve 35 is similar toshut- 01f valves [9 and 38. The downstream side of the shutoff valve 35 is connected through a pipe 36 to the final delivery pipe 2 l.

The above described system provides a complete unitary system for delivering water at a plurality of different selected temperatures to the tub l5. More particularly, with the shutoff valves 30 and 35 closed and the shutoff valve l9 open, fluid is delivered at the temperature determined by the automatic temperature controlled mixer valve to the tub l5. With the shutoff valve 30 closed and the shutoff valves 19 and 35 open fluid is supplied to the tub I at a higher temperature than that delivered from the automatic temperature controlled mixer valve but since the greatest temperature variations occur from differences in variations of pressure, it will be understood that the devices I! and 33 enable As the pressure of the fluid fluid to be delivered to the tub I5 at substantially a constant predetermined temperature which is higher than the predetermined temperature selected by the automatic temperature controlled mixer valve. similarly, a somewhat cooler tem-' perature may be obtained by opening the shut-- off valves l9 and 39 and closing the shutoff valve 35. It has been found in practice that it is frequently desirable to have several temperatures available without necessitating a change of the temperature setting of the automatic temperature controlled mixer valve. Such is provided by the present system.

The operating mechanism of the shutoff valve is illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3. Since all of the shutoff valves are the same, only one valve, namely, valve [9, is illustrated in any substantial detail.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown therein a pilot operated diaphragm shutoff valve having a casing or housing 3'! in which is disposed a central sleeve or post 38. The sleeve or post 38 communicates directly with the outlet 39 of the casing 31, while the chamber 48 surrounding the post 38 communicates directly with the inlet 4| of the casing 31. A shoulder 42 is provided internally on the casing 37 opposite the upper end of the hollow central post 38. Upon this shoulder 42 is seated a resilient diaphragm 43 which closes the upper end of the chamber 40 and is also disposed to be seated on the upper end of the central post 38. The diaphragm 43 has a central aperture or orifice 44 therein which is reinforced by a collar member 45. The diaphragm is also provided with one or more small openings 46 which are located radially outwardly of the central post 38 and are arranged to communicate the chamber 48 with the chamber 41 on the upper side of the diaphragm 43. This chamber 41 is provided by the top plate 48.

The size of the opening 48, or, in the case of more than one opening, the total combined area of the openings 46, is less than the cross-sectional 7 area of the opening 44. When the opening 44 is open the fluid which has previously entered the upper chamber 4'! through the opening 46 will escape more rapidly through opening 44 than it can enter through opening 46. This creates a greater pressure on the under side of the diaphragm 43 than on the upper side. The fluid itself thus actuates the diaphragm to lift it off of the central post 38 and fluid thereafter flows freely from the inlet 4! to the outlet 39.

- When the opening 44 of the diaphragm 43 is closed fluid under pressure passes through the orifice 46 into the upper chamber 47 and exerts a pressure over substantially the entire upper surface of the diaphragm. Since this is resisted primarily by the fluid acting against the under side of the diaphragm radially outwardly of the center post 38, it is apparent that the diaphragm 43 closes upon closure of the central orifice 44.

The mechanism for effecting an opening and closing of the central opening 44 in the diaphragm 41 will now be described. A collar or sleeve is mounted in an opening in the cover plate 48 of the valve casing 31. This sleeve 50 is arranged to have a pilot 49 slidably mounted therein. The pilot 49 has a tapered lower end 49 which is arranged to extend into the upper end of the opening 44 when the pilot 49 is in its lower position. The main body portion of the pilot 49 may assume any convenient configuration and as a matter of convenience has been therebypermitting the=pilot,.-to some extent,-to be self-lubricated by the fluid in the upper cham- 4]. 811108 the fl-uid in the upper chamber 41 ow'freely aroundthe pilot 49, the sleeve fl being circulanin cross-section, a fluid-tight housing 55 .is provided for the mechanism. This ,hous ing 5 5 is secured to the upper cover plate 58 of thevalve 'casing,- 3 1. The pilot 49 is pivotally mguntedas; at 5| .to a bell crank arm 52. This -bel1 cranlearm 52ispivotally mounted as at 53 3,120" a bracket carried on the interior face of the shell or casing 55. The bell crank arm 52 includes anupstanding ledge portion 56 terminating in a 1ip 51 which isarranged to engage ;theq-;out,er;,marginal edge '58 of a cup-shaped actuati onrn1ernber 5? ,;This cup-shaped actuation-member this 1 mounted ona .:.which -is slidablylcarried in a bearing member 362. :The cup-shaped form provides an annular contactingssurfaceWith the lip 5? which is effective regardless of the angular orientation of shaft (it the shaftufil. :A,-biasing.spring 55 disposed between the upstanding arm portion 55 and, the shell or casing 55 normally urges the lip 5'! into engagement with the edge 58 of the cup-shaped .member 59, thereby urging the pilot 49 down- ,wardly' toward .the diaphragm 43.

The boss or bearing member 52lis arranged to receive a seconducap; member 53, the two being preferably, threaded together as illustrated in Fig- The shaft 5! is provided A springthe; recess portion 65 or the recess portion 56.

.A collar member i i issecured to the shaft 6! :byga,set.screw:='i5. ;This collar is arranged to be engaged; bythe float actuation mechanism presently .to be described.

The spring pressed ball member 5% is arranged tonormally-holdthe shaft 51 in one of two posi- ;tions.

The two positions are determined by the annular grooves 65 and 66 formed on the shaft The location of the grooves 65 and 55 is suchthat when the groove 55 is in engagement .with the ball member 64, the cup-shaped member .59 is in the position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. This means that the cup-shaped member 5E1 has engaged thefinger portion 55 to raise the pilot!!! and open the valve. When the shaft .fil is in its retracted position so that the groove 166 18.111 engagement withthe ball 64, the cupshaped'member 59 has been moved out of en- .49 has just been raised and fluid is being dumped from chamber ill through opening 44. Thedecreased pressure on the upper surface of the diaphragm 53 will now cause the diaphragm to be lifted by the fluid pressure in the portion of the under surface of the. diaphragm which lies outwardly of post 38. This action takes place almost instantaneously. The valve is. closed by causing pilot 49 to close opening 54 and permit the total fluid force on the upper surface of diaphragm 43 to exceed that acting on the under side.

The particular fluid responsive means illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings is a fluid level responsive. member of the so-called weightoperated type. In thi particular type of fluid thereto.

slevel responsive ,means; av cup;rnember;= 61 1s. :piv-

otally supported onan armg68whichgis hingedaas ati69 to the top plate .481 of the -:.unit. MLAVhose connection 10 communicates with the cup member Blandthe tub of the washing machine. Thus :when'the fluid in the tub has risen to aaheight .sufiicient to cause water toflow. into ithegcupfil thev weight of the .waterlinthe. cupfi'l causes the arm 58 toidrop down from the positionas: shown in Figure 2 to the positionas shown ;in:F-igur.e' 3.

The biasing spring H which presses the ball member 64 into.engage1nent;with theishaft filais of sufficient. strength to prevent movementi ofrthe shaft 6:! as long. as the cup-shapedmember 16T isempty. However, when the cup@shapedomem-- ber 6'! fills with. water the weight overcomesthe retaining action of the biasing spring ll-and Figure 1 of the drawings, the actuating member 76 is eflective only to bringaboutv movement of the shaft 5! in a direction from right -to lefa'or, in other words, to effect-an opening of the-shutoff valve. Furthermore, it will beseen-that the cup member 5? is eifective to bring about-a.closing only of the shutoff valve, since there is nothingto cause the fluidilevel responsive memberto return toits upper position after .it. has been filled with liquid and lowered to its lower .position.

Due to the cooperative arrangement Ofthe finger l2 with the collar M, however, it will be apparent that when the actuating member 16 is moved in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 of the drawings, or depressed as viewed in Figure 4 of the drawings, the shaft-6| is moved inwardly to raise the pilot 49 and effect an opening of the shutoff valve, and at the same time the cup-shaped or fluid level responsive member 6'! is raised.

From the above description it will'be apparent that the actuating mechanism of the shutofi valve is such as to effect a manual opening and a fluid level responsive member or weight controlled closing thereof. All three of the shutoff valves i9, 35 and'35, are constructed in the manner as above'described.

Merely as a matter of reference, the outer casing I6 of the washing machine. as shownin Figure 4, is provided with a door Ti which may be opened to afford access to the tub, thereby to enable clothing or other'items to be'placed in the tub or removed therefrom.

A modified form of the present invention is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The fluid portion of the system is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and

similar reference characters have been applied It differs, however. in the manner in which the pilot 49 is operated and in the type of float illustrated. More particularly, an electrical operation is provided-which enables opening of the-valve upon depression of a pushbutton switch, and closure of the valve only by action of the float or weight member. All three of the valves i9, 30 and 35 are equipped with the same actuating mechanism, butfor purposes or" simi plicity, only one of these actuating mechanisms will be described. More particularly, the solenoid associated with the valve 35 has been broken away to show an inner shell 18 which surrounds the pilot 49 and is in fluid-tight relation with the top plate 48 of the valve 35 in the same manner that the top shell 55 was in Figure 2. The pilot 49 is of iron or other ferromagnetic material, and is freely mounted Within the shell 18. It is so disposed that upon energization of the solenoid 19 which surrounds the shell 18, it is withdrawn up into the inner shell 18 out of engagement with the diaphragm (which is of thetype illustrated in Figures 2 and 3). One

side of the solenoid I9 is connected through a conductor 39, a bridging contact 8| and a conductor 82 to a power supply conductor 83. The other side of the solenoid 19 is connected through a conductor 84, a pushbutton switch 85 and a conductor 86 to the other power supply conductor 81. A relay coil 88 is connected in parallel with solenoid I9 between the conductors 89 and 84 through the stationary contact 89. A second stationary contact 99 is connected to the conductor 86 and then to the power line 8i.

The relay coil 88 is arranged to move a relay bridging contact 9| into engagement with the stationary contacts 89 and 98 upon energization thereof. Bridging contact 8| previously referred to is mounted on the suspension arm 92 which carries a buoyant float or diving bell type of float 93. When the float 93 is not buoyantly supported or raised, the bridging contact 8| electrically connects conductors 88 and 82.

The circuit, however, is broken When the float 61 is raised. More particularly, when the pushbutton switch 85 is closed, the relay coil 88 is energized as well as the solenoid "l9. Energization of the relay coil 88 closes the bridging contact 9| which acts as a holding circuit for the coil 88. Thus, even though the pushbutton switch 85 is released (it being normally biased to an open position) the solenoid 19 remains energized from the power supply conductor 81 through the bridging contact 9| and conductor 84, and from the other power supply conductor 83 through conductor 82, bridging contact 89 and conductor 80.

Energization of the solenoid 18 lifts the pilot 49 by magnetic action and thus opens the shutofl valve 35. The shutofl valve 35 remains open until the water being introduced into the tub |5 rises to a sufficient height to raise the float 61. The raising of the float 8'! opens the bridging contact 8|, thus deenergizing the relay coil 88. Opening of the bridging contact 8| also effects deenergization of solenoid i9 and causes the valve to be closed. Since the bridging contact 9| is normally biased to its open position, deenergization of the relay coil 88 causes opening of the bridging contact 9| and restores it to its original position; thus, even though the tub is subsequently emptied, closing of the bridging contact 8| by dropping of the float 6? will not effect energization of the solenoid 79 until the pushbutton switch 85 is again depressed.

The pushbutton switches 85 may be conveniently mounted on the exterior of the Washing machine casing in any suitable and convenient manner (not shown).

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore. contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A washing machine fluid control system comprising relatively hot and cold fluid supply ducts, an automatic temperature control mixing valve connected to said supply ducts, a tub, a delivery duct disposed to deliver fluid to said tub, a delivery conduit connecting the discharge side of said mixing valve to said delivery duct, a second delivery duct bypassing said mixing valve and connecting said cold fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, a third delivery conduit bypassing said mixing valve and connecting said hot fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, a shutoff valve in each of said delivery conduits, manual means for selectively opening one or more of said shutofl valves a constant rate of flow maintaining device in each of said delivery conduits, and fluid level responsive means associated with said shut-oil? valves for shutting off all opened shutoff valves when the fluid delivered to said tub reaches a predetermined height therein.

2. A washing machine fluid control system comprising relatively hot and cold fluid supply ducts, an automatic temperature control mixing valve connected to said supply ducts, a tub, a delivery duct disposed to deliver fluid to said tub, a delivery conduit connecting the discharge side of said mixing valve to said delivery duct, a second delivery duct bypassing said mixing valve and connecting said cold fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, a third delivery conduit bypassing said mixing valve and connecting said hot fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, a shutofi valve in each delivery conduits, electrically operated means for selectively opening one or more of said shutoff valves, a constant rate of flow maintaining device in each of said delivery conduits, and fluid level responsive means associated with said shut-off valves for shutting off all opened shutoff valves when the fluid delivered to said tub reaches a predetermined height therein.

3. A washing machine fluid control system comprising relatively hot and cold fluid supply ducts, an automatic temperature control mixing valve connected to said supply ducts, a tub, a delivery duct disposed to deliver fluid to said tub, a delivery conduit connecting the discharge side of said mixing valve to said delivery duct, a second delivery duct bypassing said mixing valve and connecting said cold fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, a third delivery conduit bypassing said mixing valve and connecting said hot fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, a shutoff valve in each of said delivery conduits, pushbutton electrically operated means for selectively opening one or more of said shutoff valves, a constant rate of flow maintaining device in each of said delivery conduits, and relay means for holding said shutoff valves open until the level of the fluid delivered to said tub reaches a predetermined height, whereupon said electrical means is deenergized and all opened shutoff valves are closed.

4. A washing machine fluid control system comp-rising relatively hot and cold fluid supply ducts, an automatic temperature controlled mixing valve connected to said supply ducts, a tub, a delivery duct disposed to deliver fluid to said tub, a delivery conduit connecting the discharge side of said mixing valve to said delivery duct, a second delivery duct lay-passing said mixing valve and connecting said cold fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, a third delivery conduit by-passing said mixing valve and connecting said hot fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, constant rate of flow maintaining means in each of said conduits, a shut-off valve in each of said delivery conduits, mechanical means for selectively opening one or more of said valves, mechanical means for holding said valves open, and mechanical means for overcoming said mechanical holding means to close said valve when the level of fluid delivered to said tub reaches a predetermined height.

5. A Washing machine fluid control system comprising relatively hot and cold fluid supply ducts, an automatic temperature controlled mixing valve connected to said supply ducts, a tub, a delivery duct disposed to deliver fluid to said tub, a delivery conduit connecting the discharge side of said mixing valve to said delivery duct, a second delivery conduit by-passing said mixing valve and connecting said cold fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, a third delivery conduit by-passing said mixing valve and connecting said hot fluid supply duct with said delivery duct, constant rate of flow maintaining means in each of said conduits, a shut-01f valve in each of said delivery conduits, manually operable mechanical 10 means for selectively opening only one or more of said valves, mechanical means for holding said valves open, and mechanical means for overcoming said mechanical holding means to close said valve when the level of fluid delivered to said tub reaches a predetermined height.

THOMAS B. CHACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

